The Peacock 661

 He stood still while I walked towards him staring intently at me.  I wondered if he was going to hit me.  Then, I stopped, standing less than two feet from him, already inside his personal space.  He didn't budge, but kept looking at me, and quickly my resolve dissolved and instead of challenging him, instead of demanding to know who the hell he was and why he was following me, I simply stammered and mumbled something incomprehensible.  I was completely in his power.  He gestured with his head that I follow him, then turned around and I walked just a little behind him for about half an hour.  We turned into a clearing in the forest.  By then the sun had almost set.  We came out into a small clear circle. surrounded by logs arranged like benches.  He commanded me to start taking my clothes off, and as I did, so did he, until we stood facing each other naked.  We did not approach or touch each other.  I remember the superb gleaming musculature of what I would have to call the most perfect naked male body I had ever laid eyes on, then someone was approaching, I think more than one person...

"I woke up lying on the grass in the middle of the clearing, just at sunrise.  I was fully clothed.  I had absolutely no memory of what had transpired, not since taking my clothes off.  I felt disoriented, and cold, and my head was hurting like hell.  When I came home, Christopher had just gotten up, and was seated at the kitchen table waiting for the coffee to be made...

The Peacock 660

 I have just reached for Kenny's diary, and pause before opening.  This thing has a certain power, it is almost like a living thing, and frankly, I have become afraid of it  With effort, I flip through the pages , then I begin to read:

"He was following me again today, that handsome well dressed guy that won't talk to me.  This time in the forest of Pacific Spirit Park, of all places.  The thing is, how does he know where to find me?  But find  me he does, and again, it's the same thing.  I was walking on a quiet trail, no one seemed to be around then this slightly creepy feeling started to come over me.  I turned around, and there he was, at a distance.  But I still recognized him.  I thought for a minute, then decided to let it go  and just keep walking.  So, I walked on for another five or ten minutes, then turned around again.  He was closer.  I sped up, hoping I would lose him, but he had also quickened his pace.  Anyway, he seems like a faster walker than me, a lot faster.  It was like last week when he was following me in Stanley Park.  I slowed my pace, deliberately, to see if he would catch up with me, but he also slowed down.  Finally I stopped and glared at him.  He must have been about forty feet away.  He didn't move.  Then I decided again to approach him....

The Peacock 659

 "How do you know all this?" says Carl.

"Francois blinks and quietly resumes eating, then, while food is still in his mouth, he says, "I really don't know.  Look, I think I heard several things being spoken to me today in the garden, and this just popped into my head somehow.  Anyway, what do you gentlemen propose we do after dinner?  Should we go downstairs and join the others, or play by ourselves up here in the attic?"

"I move that we stay up here", say I.

"Agreed", says Carl.  "There is something here that feels unfinished.  What do you think, Chris?"

"I think you're right."

"Should we have another look at your friend's journal?"

"I don't see why not", say I.

"Are there any chocolate chips left?"

"There's still a full bag in the bottom desk drawer.  Waiting to be plundered..."

The Peacock 658

 Now we have all paused between mouthfuls, as if we have something rather more substantial to feed on and inwardly digest than the delicious food on our plates.  Francois has returned to his silent revery, letting his food grow cold on the arm of the chair he is sitting in.  I pick at my salad, a bit of red pepper here, and now a black olive, and then a green olive.  Altogether delicious.  This is one of the most substantial salads I have ever eaten.  There is cheese, black beans, tofu, broccoli, tomatoes, beautifully coloured cherry tomatoes, what looks like artichoke hearts.

"There's something else", says Francois, snapping me out of my pleasant little food revery.

There is something new about his tone and appearance that completely summons our attention.

"It is true what Adam said today about this place being under a curse.  The nurse who will be visiting tomorrow to give the covid injections is a relative of yours, Carl.  You must begin to engage with her at once.  She holds the key to breaking the curse.  And you are also wise to be concerned about your mother.  She will have plans for this house that you are going to find incompatible with the direction that God is leading you in.  Unfortunately you are going to have to stand up to both her and your sister, but we are also going to support you, isn't that right , brother Christopher."

Before I have a chance to agree or disagree, Francois continues, "By the way, who owns the house, just you?"

"Just me.  Melissa has to tow my line here."

"And so will your mother.  But stand up against her, stand up to them both."

The Peacock 656

 "What happened?" say I.

"Yes,  good question", says Francois between mouthfuls of salad.  "What did you guys see?"

"I saw a person, male; I think", say I, "But it was hard to tell."

"More of an androgynous being", says Carl.

"Yes", say I, "Angelic, wearing what appeared to be a white robe, and shining."

"Luminescent."

"You both saw a person?" says Francois.

"Appeared human," say I, "But shining. Angelic."

"He didn't have wings?", says Francois, grinning mischievously.

"No, he did not have wings", says Carl with mock impatience.

"So", says François", you both, Christopher and Carl, saw an angelic being."

"Yes", says Carl.  "Isn't that what you saw?"

"No."

"Did you see anything", say I.

"Light.  I saw light, and felt drawn to it."

"But you were spoken to", says Carl, as though wanting reassurance.

"I heard some words, "All shall be well, and all shall be well, and all manner of things shall be well."

"And nothing else?" says Carl.

Francois pauses, putting his half full plate aside, as though trying to recapture something.  "Yes, something else...You can never get far from me.  I am with you always..."

The Peacock 655

 "Maybe we should have eaten with the others", say I, "They might think we're avoiding them."

"Or forming our own little religious cult", says Carl.

"Please", says Francois, from the comfy armchair, "We had enough of those fun and games with dear Douglas at the helm."

"I am stretched out on the bed with my plate of dinner on my lap, and propped up by a couple of pillows.  Carl occupies the chair by the desk.

"These potatoes are just dandy", says Carl.  "The magic of Mel."

"Your sister is one marvellous cook", says Francois.  "Did she train as a chef?"

"In Zurich.  Taught by the best."

"Boy, I'll say", say I.  I turn to Francois, "Anyway, this seems like a good time to debrief from what happened.  But, what happened, anyway?"

Again he is wearing a beatific smile.  "You tell me."

"Are you okay?" says Carl."

"Never felt better", says François.  "Never felt better in my life..."

The Peacock 654

 "Carl". says Melissa sharply, and getting right in his face.  "What happened?"

"Chill, little sister", he says laughing.  "We saw an angel and he spoke to Francois, who is upstairs resting.  And quite frankly, Chris and I are also needing quiet time, so pray hold us excused.  We three are dining together upstairs."

Together, Carl and I portion out the food onto three large dinner plates, including the chocolate cheesecake squares that Melissa has just made, for dessert, and three tall glasses of juice.  Carl puts everything on a large serving tray which he carries with him and now we are climbing the grand staircase.

"You know, Chris, sometimes these stairs remind me of the Grand Staircase on the Titanic."

"I hope that isn't a metaphor."

"Same here."

At Francois' door, I knock softly.  Again I knock, louder.  There is no answer.  I push open the door.  He is lying on top of his bed, snoring softly.

"Dinner is served", announces Carl in a loud, cheery singsong voice.

Francois opens his eyes and smiles.  "Perhaps we could dine in Christopher's room", he says.  "The desk is larger and there is more room..